Havelock’s Derrell Scott couldn’t describe being a back-to-back state champion.

“There’s something about a second state championship,” he said. “The first one was special, but the second one, man it’s crazy.”

Scott ran for 145 yards and two touchdowns to help the Rams to a 55-21 victory over the Concord Spiders in the state 3A championship game on Saturday at BB&T Field in Winston-Salem.

With the performance, he was named Havelock’s offensive most valuable player for the game.

“I couldn’t do it without my team. We’ve got the best team in the state,” Scott said. “We’ve got the best coaches in the state. Without the Lord on my side, he’s been guiding us the whole season. We couldn’t do it without Him. I’m just so thankful for this opportunity.”

Scott had just 36 yards on seven carries in a first half the Rams trailed 21-20. Part of the issue was Havelock had just four offensive possessions in the first half.

“In the first half, they were kind of just jumping where we were running the ball,” Scott said. “I just stayed patient and kept waiting for the offensive line to make the holes. I knew they were going to make them eventually, and when my time came, I just took it.”

That time was in the second half. Scott had 109 yards on the ground, and his 2-yard dive lifted Havelock to a 35-21 lead with 5:14 left in the third quarter.

Scott then added a 13-yard scoring run in the first minute of the fourth quarter, giving Havelock a 42-21 lead and giving the Rams the idea that they had gained control of the contest.

Scott was quick to give credit to the offensive line.

“With all those other guys out there, it’s not just me,” Scott said. “They’re the ones who made all the holes for me and made it happen. I just kept believing them and kept trusting them.”

Havelock coach Jim Bob Bryant said the Rams made adjustments at halftime, looking at more runs outside to give Scott open running room.

“We tried to get Derrell on the edge,” Bryant said of his super junior, who had 18 carries in the contest. “Our wide receivers did a good job with some crack blocks on the linebackers. Our offensive line set the edge, and we were able to get him outside.”

Senior offensive lineman Donnie Richards said the front five had a difficult time in the first half with just four offensive possessions.

“We weren’t able to get in a rhythm because we never really had the football,” he said. “In the second half, the defense did a good job getting us the ball, and we were able to get into a rhythm.”

Page 2 of 2 - He said the offensive line takes pride in blocking for Scott, who is being recruited by most major college football programs.

“One day, he’ll be playing in the big time, and I’m going to be able to say I played with that guy,” Richards said.

Scott, just a junior, knows winning a third consecutive state championship won’t be easy, but he said the Rams would certainly try.

“We look good. We’re just going to be a little young, but we can do it,” he said. “It’s about practice and effort, and we have to work hard in the offseason like we did this year. It’s possible.”